S Africa – Winnie on dissing the Mandela family; she should know

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has accused the ANC, under President Jacob Zuma’s leadership, of disrespecting the Mandela family.

Madikizela-Mandela was responding to a request from Luthuli House to meet with the family to discuss Tuesday’s ANC centenary celebrations, which will see Zuma delivering a lecture on Nelson Mandela.

In email correspondence, addressed to ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu – which the Mail & Guardian has seen – Madikizela-Mandela said the family “rejected” the ANC’s request for a meeting for a number of reasons but that “hundreds more” existed.

Madikizela-Mandela said in the past the ANC “never had any interest in celebrating Tata’s [Mandela’s] birthday except to gate crash on the family’s arrangements” and that its attitude towards the family proved that “we do not matter at all”.

“The family is still grappling with the most shabby treatment throughout the years, especially in Mangaung in January this year. As I indicated we are deeply hurt as the family. Read more…